Heavy Weather Sailing

[kevwr400]

Thanks Ian that is all good advice. My shrouds do slacken anything over 15knots, I have seen pictures of the bracing other people have done and it looks pretty straight forward! Nice tips for coastal cruising modifications.

Peter, I found this article on the web, makes allot of sense what the authors is saying.

http://www.sailingmagazine.net/how-to/t ... g-in-waves

[Dr. Peter]

That is a good article. I was particularly taken by the advice to steer along the wave crest just before it passes under the boat. The point made about what angle to use going down the wave was also interesting - on one angle you can trip over the keel/centreplate whilst on the other pitchpole at the bow. The trick is to know what works for your boat in particular conditions.

I think this is another reason for testing yourself and your boat in incrementally worse conditions - in this case waves. Having said that, a big wave for an Investigator 563 would not have to be a particularly big wave. I think my max so far is about 2m. What 2m means to a meteorologist is quite interesting and well worth looking up.

If you have not read the article I recommend you do.

[geoffr]

Hi all:

Two months back my son James and I got caught in a wind change during the last leg of a club race on our local Corio Bay. Suddenly, instead of the predicted 15-20 knots, we were averaging 25 knots, with gusts much higher. Fortunately, we were able to limp back home without much damage; rather than reefing I just played the main right out and came home under the jib. Our little boat bobbed about and we took on some water over the coaming now and then, but ultimately we were safe enough.

Unfortunately, several weeks earlier I had been out with a complete (elderly) novice when a similar wind change came through. I was so preoccupied looking after my crew's welfare that I had little time left to 'sail' the boat -- and with no help from the crew I was in no position to reef or haul down the jib. It was all I could do to get my engine started in such conditions. Consequently, I ended up ripping my mainsail as it flogged itself to death in 30+ knot winds.

Most recently, I got caught in a far more dramatic wind change, again on Corio Bay. On this occasion I was part of our regular racing crew aboard an S80 (27 foot keelboat -- yes, I tinker with the dark side as well as trailables). We had already spent most of the day reefed down for the 31 mile race we were competing in, to cope with the winds from the north gusting throughout the day at 30+ knots. The larger boat sailed well in such conditions and it's amazing how well it sailed with a reef, with no appreciable loss of power.

But then the wind changed in the late arvo around to the south, and started to gust at over 50 knots (according to the local marine authority's own wind gauges on the local channel marks). Suddenly we were in real trouble, with far too much cloth up -- despite the reef. The worst part was the 2-3 metre swell that just came up out of nowhere. Before we could take appropriate action we ended up tearing both our No2 jib and our reefed mainsail.

Then, while changing the torn jib for a stormsail, we lost our bowman overboard. Fortunately, he was just able to cling to the running rail on the leeward side, and despite his weight (he's a big lad: about 120kg!) I hauled him up our stepped transom after a few minutes in the chilled water. We then called for a rescue craft, as we knew hypothermia was a real possibility for our dunked comrade.

We all learnt a lot that day, and I remain firmly convinced that anyone who deliberately sets out to sail in such conditions for no good reason (i.e. no 'sheep stations' at stake) should perhaps re-think the value they place not only on their boat, but more importantly on the safety of those they sail with -- and ultimately their own welfare.

As an aside: I'm wondering how many other sailers out there reading this post have actually performed a MOB retrieval for real, let alone done a recent practice drill. If you haven't done at least a drill, may I suggest you try it? It might just save someone's life one day.

Cheers,

[Dr. Peter]

My comments all suggested that incremental increases in conditions should be tried. Obviously you can be caught out.

A couple of things come to mind about the situations you describe wrt Investigators:

1. At 15-20 knots I would already have the first reef in my main.

I myself was caught out in 35 knots and while I already had two reefs in, the system I had in place would not allow me to go for the third reef; I have since changed this. Your reefing system has to work when you need it.

2. Once the change hit if nothing else I would have furled my jib - for an immediate large reduction in sail area. I don't recall that you have a furling jib, Geoff, if not, you need a line on your jib which pulls that sail down the forestay fast.

[geoffr]

Hi Peter:

I agree with your observations re reefing early, if you have the chance (or in my case, a competent crew).

I have had mixed success with both a furling jib and a haul down on my forestay hanked jib.

My current furling jib is a little tired, so I don't tend to use it for racing. Many of our club's 'old salts' also claim you can't sail high enough with a furler jib - not sure about this claim! The few times I have furled it usually works OK, though it has jammed a couple of times.

I've therefore been experimenting recently with a haul down line on my newer hanked jib (which I tend to use for racing), but again with mixed success. I clip it to the penultimate hank and run the cord down through the hanks below, then to a block at the base of the forestay on the deck, and along the deck to a simple V-cleat just beside the cockpit.

Unfortunately, when I've gone to pull it down the cord just jams with the twisting hanks, and the sail comes about half way down, then sits there flapping waiting for someone to haul it the rest of the way. Perhaps I need to have the line come down outside the hanks, and risk it flapping about unless held under constant tension.

More experimenting ahead, no doubt.

Cheers,

[Dr. Peter]

Wow! That was a quick reply.

You make an important point - what's possible and just how prudent we should be does depend a lot on the crew.

Did James and the elderly novice come back?

[geoffr]

Hi again:

Son James remains a regular happy crew on QUMBU, but as he lives in Melbourne he's not always available.

Even so, we've had lots of adventures together, including sending our first boat over on its edge in a blow off Portarlington about six years ago.

Unfortunately, my elderly novice crew has not come back; I think he realised his limitations.

Cheers,

[Ozzie]

http://www.trailersailerplace.com.au/ph ... f=2&t=9343

This thread on TSP is also relevant .if you find yourself overpowered and your toerail is kissing the briney what do you do. Like Jeff about half way down I dump the jib sheet first. I usually hold the jib when sailing hard and play it to offset gusts. So far that has always given me time to adjust everything else.

How about everyone else?

[kevwr400]

Hi Ozzie, I do the same except Balance the boat on the main, hand on the sheet whenever the gunwhale close to under, find it lessens the weather helm and stops AM rounding up, I have also lost a waeco fridge in the port cockpit locker from flooding so hence i know longer leave electrics in there. Call me strange but i enjoy seeing the water splashing up under the cabin windows and into the cockpit even though AM is going slower gives me a rush. Do you find your boat wants to round up with no headsail power and boost from uncontested main?

[Ozzie]

Yes Kev , it does , as Jeff on TSP said it puts the force on the rudder and it rounds up or tends to do so unless your offset it with the tiller.

As an aside, I used to be very confused by all the adjustments on the boat in the early days but a thread on TSP about sailing without a rudder bought it all home. I sailed first in my 20s on a wind surfer and of course it is all seat of the pants stuff, no rudder, I did little in the way of study on the theory of it all bak then, unlike when I bought the Investigator. If you think of the sail on your boat like a windsurfer which is steered by sail movement, all adjustments are about moving the centre of effort which it my mind I regard as a big round shadow ala sailing books. Since then I began to relate everything back to my windsurfing days it all made good sense.

Dumping the jib then should allways round up the boat as I see it.

If anyone can give me a simple explanation of "the slot" between the sails I'm interested.

Good point about water in the lockers . I only have my battery on the sb locker but I would not be good to drown it.